Great practice leadership is about more than keeping a general practice running. It is about building strong teams, supporting people and creating the conditions for safe, high-quality patient care. Dr Keshav Dhawan brings a unique perspective to what this looks like in practice. As Practice Manager across three Melbourne clinics – Essence Healthcare, East Keilor…
In 1966, general practice looked very different. There were no online bookings or automated appointment reminders. No electronic health records, telehealth appointments or digital systems helping practices manage recalls and results. At Walton Bridge Medical Centre, there weren’t yet practice nurses or a dedicated practice manager. Sixty years later, much has changed. But at the…
The release of the RACGP Standards for general practices 6th edition marks the next stage in the evolution of general practice accreditation in Australia. To help practices familiarise themselves with the new Standards, AGPAL hosted two introductory webinars presented by Megan Best, Senior Coordinator, AGPAL Accreditation. Each session provided an overview of the new structure, some of…
Change is a familiar part of general practice. Practices continually adapt to new evidence, technology, patient expectations, workforce pressures and changes across the broader healthcare environment. The RACGP Standards for general practices 6th edition have now been officially released, representing the next evolution of the accreditation framework for Australian general practice. The 6th edition builds…
Continuous Quality improvement (CQI) is already embedded in everyday general practice, shaped by ongoing observation, reflection and action. What’s changing is the expectation that these activities are clearly demonstrated, with data used to support both the rationale for change and achieved outcomes. Across healthcare, there is an increasing focus on person-centred, value-based and data-informed…
Patient Experience Week is a global celebration that recognises the healthcare staff and community members who contribute to patient care every day. In 2026, the celebration runs from 27 April to 1 May and continues to focus on the theme ‘Building the Foundations of Experience’ highlighting the care, culture and systems that support positive outcomes…
Quality improvement (QI) has long been part of how general practices operate. Every day, teams adjust workflows, respond to feedback, refine systems and solve problems in ways that improve care for patients and support how the practice runs. Under the current RACGP Standards, QI is broadly defined as activities undertaken to monitor, evaluate or improve…
Over 20 years of commitment and insight into supporting a positive accreditation experience for practices For more than 20 years, Kim Gardner has worked alongside general practices as an AGPAL Surveyor, helping teams to understand accreditation requirements and strengthen the systems that support safe, consistent, high-quality care. Over that time, she has completed an inspiring…
AGPAL, CFEP Surveys and Parkinson’s Australia have partnered to deliver a national survey that will inform the development of the Parkinson’s Disease Education Exchange (PDEX) platform, an education initiative designed to strengthen Parkinson’s acre across Australia. The survey is a key part of the community consultation process and will help shape education and training…
At the AGPAL and QIP Board meeting held on Friday 12 December 2025, several key Board membership changes were confirmed as part of AGPAL’s commitment to strong, forward-focused governance. Dr Richard Choong, Australian Medical Association (AMA) nominee to the AGPAL Board concluded his tenure as Director and Chair on the AGPAL Board. Dr Costa Boyages,…
